🌿 BIOL 1101: The Ultimate Study Guide - Daniela’s notes
Focus: Organisms, Evolution, & Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
1. The Science of Life: Organism Characteristics
To be considered "alive," an organism must check all these boxes. Think of the
acronym DOG RACE (Development, Organization, Growth, Reproduction,
Adaptation, Cells, Energy).
• Order: Highly organized structures (Cells -> Tissues -> Organs).
• Reproduction: The ability to produce offspring and pass on DNA.
• Growth & Development: Inherited information (DNA) controls patterns of
growth.
• Energy Processing: Metabolism (converting fuel like food or sunlight into
work).
• Response to Environment: Also called Irritability (e.g., a plant turning toward
light).
• Regulation (Homeostasis): Maintaining a stable internal environment (like body
temp).
• Evolutionary Adaptation: Changes over generations to survive in an
environment.
💡 Exam Tip: If a question asks if a virus is "alive," remember they usually fail the
"Energy Processing" and "Independent Reproduction" checks!
2. The Biological Hierarchy
Life is organized from the microscopic to the global.
• Biosphere: The variarity of all organisms at all levels of Earth
• Ecosystem: Organisms adapted to an specific area and abiotic factors
• Community: Species that interacts in different populations.
• Population: Organisms that live in a specific area
• Organism: A living organism being
• Organ systems: Group of organs that work all-together
• Tissues: Group of cells with specific function
• Cell: Fundamental unit of structure and function
• Organelle: Structure inside the cell with specific functions
• Molecule: Union of two or more atoms
Focus: Organisms, Evolution, & Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
1. The Science of Life: Organism Characteristics
To be considered "alive," an organism must check all these boxes. Think of the
acronym DOG RACE (Development, Organization, Growth, Reproduction,
Adaptation, Cells, Energy).
• Order: Highly organized structures (Cells -> Tissues -> Organs).
• Reproduction: The ability to produce offspring and pass on DNA.
• Growth & Development: Inherited information (DNA) controls patterns of
growth.
• Energy Processing: Metabolism (converting fuel like food or sunlight into
work).
• Response to Environment: Also called Irritability (e.g., a plant turning toward
light).
• Regulation (Homeostasis): Maintaining a stable internal environment (like body
temp).
• Evolutionary Adaptation: Changes over generations to survive in an
environment.
💡 Exam Tip: If a question asks if a virus is "alive," remember they usually fail the
"Energy Processing" and "Independent Reproduction" checks!
2. The Biological Hierarchy
Life is organized from the microscopic to the global.
• Biosphere: The variarity of all organisms at all levels of Earth
• Ecosystem: Organisms adapted to an specific area and abiotic factors
• Community: Species that interacts in different populations.
• Population: Organisms that live in a specific area
• Organism: A living organism being
• Organ systems: Group of organs that work all-together
• Tissues: Group of cells with specific function
• Cell: Fundamental unit of structure and function
• Organelle: Structure inside the cell with specific functions
• Molecule: Union of two or more atoms
